Automatic antenna positioning system

Abstract

A microprocessor-controlled antenna positioning system for automatically steering a rotatable antenna in the direction of a source of radiated signals is disclosed. The present invention, which is particularly adapted for use in a television receiver or a subscription television receiver (STV) decoder, automatically seeks the best signal when a new channel or frequency is selected, remembers that preferred antenna position, and will return to it whenever that channel or frequency is subsequently selected. A large number of desired antenna headings may be stored in memory for subsequent use and the computer-selected antenna heading may be modified to avoid TV ghosts or to select a second station on the same channel. The system determines optimum antenna direction by sweeping the antenna through a full 360.degree. circle, keeping track of the width of receivable signal lobes. Upon completing the sweep, it selects the widest transmitted signal lobe at the desired frequency and positions the antenna in the center of that lobe. In addition, an intermediate frequency automatic gain control (IFAGC) voltage representing received signal strength is compared with a predetermined signal level established by the viewer for insuring that received signal strength is sufficient for presentation of a minimally acceptable video image. Accurate positioning is insured by incrementally rotationally displacing the receiving antenna, sequentially and repetitively comparing the new position with a programmed, or stored, position by means of a control signal feedback loop, and generating antenna positioning commands in response thereto.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to rotary antenna positioning systems and more specifically is directed to a microprocessor controlled automatic antenna positioning system in which transmitter location and received signal strength are used in optimally positioning the antenna.

Rotary antenna positioning systems are used in various communications systems, most popularly in conventional television and radio receivers. These systems may be either manual and under the direct control of the user, or viewer, or they may be automatic in the sense that the antenna is positioned automatically in response to the station, or channel, selected. Automatic antenna positioning is desirable since the untrained user generally finds it difficult to optimally position the antenna for receiving the strongest signal. Transmitting antenna sidelobe radiation, the presence of widely located stations transmitting the same channel, or frequency, and various other factors beyond the viewer's control frequently make accurate manual antenna positioning difficult, if not impossible.

The performance of automatic antenna positioning systems is frequently degraded by electric motor interference with the reception and detection of the incoming signal. In addition, in conventional rotary antenna positioning systems the antenna drive system is coupled to the channel selector and tuning systems by means of a large number of electromechanical relays and switches which not only are electrically noisy, but also generally have low reliability.

From the discussion of the aforementioned problems, it can be seen that the orientation of the receiving antenna is a critical factor in optimizing the reception of the transmitted signals. These problems may be compounded by the use of receiving antennas having inceased directivity for bringing the weaker signals. Antenna positioning is critical not only in urban areas because of the presence of reflected signals from large buildings, but also in rural areas where several sources of a transmitted signal may be available at a particular location.

The prior art discloses many approaches in positioning a rotary antenna. One such approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,539 to Barton wherein a signal representing the actual position of the receive antenna is generated and compared with a signal representing the desired position with both signals provided to a comparator, the output of which is a direction control signal. This system is primarily analog in nature with the desired position signal source for generating a signal representing the desired position of the antenna typically being a potentiometer, the resistance of which is responsive to the channel selected. U.S. Pat. No. 3,229,176 to Curll, Jr. et al describes a rotatable shaft positioning system having manual and automatic modes wherein the angular displacement of the channel selector is converted to corresponding rotary antenna drive signals. Thus, antenna rotation is correlated with channel selector knob rotation. U.S. Pat. No. 3,200,314 to Iroler also discloses a rotary antenna positioning system which is directly coupled to the channel tuner shaft that each position of the tuner shaft corresponding to a selected channel electromechanically causes the rotary antenna to be oriented in a corresponding position. Television antenna rotating servo systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,794,162 to Lifsey and 3,248,730 to Neumeyer.

Refinements in the prior art in the general approach taken to optimally position a rotary antenna have been numerous, as evidenced by the aforementioned systems. Typical of these improvements are systems in which multiple antenna rotations in searching for a selected station is avoided and wherein the antenna is moved directly to the desired orientation with the smallest displacement angle therebetween subtended. Examples of systems embodying these improvements can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,989,680 to Weiser et al; 3,448,360 to Pohl; and 3,826,964 to Byrne. These approaches generally represent improvements over earlier antenna positioning systems, but fail to provide a system capable of accurately positioning the receiving antenna with respect to several signal sources and where several operating parameters are utilized for more accurately positioning the receiving antenna relative to the transmitted signal source.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved antenna positioning system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic positioning system for a rotary antenna in which the antenna rotor automatically seeks the most recent direction of maximum signal strength following station selection.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary antenna positioning system with improved directional accuracy in which the antenna is sequentially rotated in small increments followed by high speed position detection and comparison with a predetermined, programmed direction by means of a microprocessor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved rotary positioning system for a directive antenna wherein a predetermined direction to the signal source or a predetermined maximum signal level are employed in more accurately orienting the antenna.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an antenna rotary positioning system which takes into account temporary wind-induced antenna displacement by continuously compensating for this source of antenna pointing error in accurately positioning the antenna.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved rotary antenna positioning system for automatically orienting the antenna to receive maximum transmitted signal strength in an environment in which a plurality of sources of that signal at various locations relative to the receiving antenna are present.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended claims set forth those novel features believed characteristic of the invention. However, the invention itself as well as further objects and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates partially in block diagram form and partially in schematic diagram form an automatic antenna positioning system in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGS. 2a and 2b show the signal processing in terms of the logic and decision making implemented by the microprocessor in carrying out the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an automatic antenna positioning system 10 in accordance with the present invention.

Briefly, whenever a channel, or frequency, is selected by means of channel selector 110, the microprocessor 12 produces a binary, 8-bit word which contains the information necessary to turn the rotor 120 to the proper direction for the channel selected. Rotor 120 is coupled to an antenna 122 via line 124 for the rotation thereof. A shift register 14 and resistor network 16 form a digital-to-analog converter which, together with operational amplifier 18 changes the 8-bit binary word to a DC voltage representing the desired antenna direction. The resulting voltage is applied in 40 millivolt steps to two inputs of a window comparator 32 comprised primarily of operational amplifiers 28, 30.

A rheostat 115 inside the rotor 120 operates as a sensor in feeding a voltage back to a current source circuit 34 to the remaining two inputs of the window comparator 32. If the respective voltages on the inputs of the window comparator 32 representing desired and present antenna positions are the same, nothing further happens. If these voltages are not the same, however, either the output of operational amplifier 28 or the output of operational amplifier 30 will swing positive. This turns on transistor 66 and indicates to the microprocessor 12 (through the rotor comparator status line 94) that the voltages are no longer the same. The microprocessor 12 then turns off transistors 98, 100 through the rotor start/stop line 96. If the output of the window comparator 32 is positive, transistors 68, 80 turn on and turn the rotor counterclockwise.

The process described above continues in small voltage incremental steps until the desired direction voltage and present direction voltage are equal. When the rotor 120 reaches the proper direction, both outputs of the window comparator 32 remain negative. This turns off transistor 66 and indicates to the microprocessor 12, through the rotor comparator status lines 94, that the circuit is balanced. The two voltages are checked once each minute to make sure the circuit remains balanced. This keeps the rotor 120 correctly positioned in case wind or some other environmental factor causes it to turn.

At the same time, the microprocessor 12 samples the level of the received signal from the antenna 122 by comparing an intermediate frequency automatic gain control (IFAGC) signal level in a comparator 107 to a predetermined signal level which may be set by the viewer in providing a threshold level detection signal via line 108 to the microprocessor 12. In response to this threshold level detection signal and the rotor position compare signal, the microprocessor 12 provides the antenna's rotor 120 with a control signal for either continuing antenna rotation if the received signal level does not exceed the predetermined signal level or for terminating antenna rotation if the received signal level exceeds the predetermined signal level.

More particularly, clocking, antenna positioning data and rotor set/reset signals are provided by microprocessor 12 to serial input/parallel output shift register 14. Shift register 14 is energized by a +V.sub.1 voltage source and converts the digital input signals to 7-bit output signals which are provided to an R2R resistor network 16. Resistor network 16, in turn, provides an analog signal representing a predetermined rotor position corresponding to the selected station to signal comparison circuitry. Shift register 14 in combination with resistor network 16 thus forms a digital-to-analog converter. Microprocessor 12 synthesizes and provides a clocking signal to shift register 14 in a conventional manner for proper signal processing therein. Antenna positioning data representing a position vector is stored in microprocessor 12 and recalled in response to either television receiver turn-on or a station, or channel, selection change. This position data represents the position of the selected transmitting antenna relative to the rotary receiving antenna 122 of maximum received signal strength the last time that particular station was selected. This positioning data is stored in the microprocessor's RAM and recalled upon receiver turn-on or new channel selection. A rotor set/reset signal is provided by microprocessor 12 to shift register 14 for proper initialization thereof.

The analog signal representing desired antenna position is amplified by operational amplifier 18. Resistors 20, 22 establish the gain across operational amplifier 18, which in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is 2. The amplified output from op amp 18 is provided via resistor 24 to the positive input of comparator 28 and via resistor 26 to the negative input of comparator 30. The output of current source 34 is provided via resistor 50 to the negative input of comparator 28 and via resistor 52 to the positive input of comparator 30 with the circuit primarily comprised of comparators 28, 30 forming a window comparator 32 wherein present antenna position is compared with desired antenna position as described in the following paragraphs.

Current source 34 is energized by a +V.sub.2 potential provided via diodes 42, 44 to the base of transistor 36 and via resistors 38, 40 to the emitter of transistor 36. Diodes 42, 44 provide a constant V.sub.be voltage across transistor 36 while resistors 38, 40 establish the output current of constant current source 34. Variable resistance 40 permits the output current of current source 34 to be selectively varied. Grounded resistor 46 provides proper turn-on biasing for transistor 36.

The output current of transistor 36 is provided to the rotor's rheostat 115 via line 47 and via resistor 48 and resistors 50, 52 to comparators 28, 30, respectively. Resistor 48 in combination with grounded capacitor 49 and resistors 50, 52 form a passive integrator in filtering out noise from the signal provided to comparators 28, 30, which signal represents the current antenna position as explained in the following paragraph.

The present invention contemplates the incorporation of a variable resistance rheostat 115 in the antenna's rotor 120. The resistance of the rheostat is a function of the rotary position of the antenna 122 and varies in response thereto. Thus, with a constant current provided to the rheostat 115 by means of current source 34, the voltage across the rheostat varies as a function of the antenna's position. The voltage provided to comparators 28, 30 via resistor 48 thus represents the position of the antenna's rotor 20. As a result, a signal representing the actual orientation of the antenna 122 is provided to the negative input of comparator 28 and to the positive input of comparator 30, while a signal representing the optimum, or desired, antenna position for station tuning is provided to the positive input of comparator 28 and the negative input of comparator 30. Comparators 28, 30 with their associated resistors and voltage sources +V.sub.2 and -V form a window comparator circuit 32. Utilizing a rheostat in the rotor of a variable position antenna to monitor the orientation of the antenna is conventional in nature and does not form a part of the present invention.

Resistors 54, 56 establish the gain across comparator 28 while resistors 58, 60 establish the gain across comparator 30. A +V.sub.2 voltage source is coupled to the negative inputs of comparators 28, 30 via resistors 62 and 64, respectively. The combination of the +V.sub.2 voltage source and resistors 62, 64 establishes the hysteresis of the window comparator comprised of comparators 28, 30. This hysteresis values establishes the turn-on and turn-off of the window comparator in terms of the threshold voltage comparison in comparators 28 and 30. For example, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the output of the resistor network 16 varies from 0 to 5 VDC in rotating the antenna from 0.degree. to 360.degree.. If it is desired that the antenna point in the 180.degree. direction, corresponding to an output of 2.5 VDC from resistor network 16, the driving voltage should be removed from the rotor during rotation at some time prior to arriving at 180.degree.. For example, it may be desirable to terminate the drive signal to the rotor when the antenna position reaches 185.degree. during counterclockwise rotation or 175.degree. during clockwise rotation. The shutoff point in terms of the threshold voltage, or antenna position, is known as the hysteresis of the comparator window and is established by the values of the +V.sub.2 voltage source and resistors 62, 64.

If a comparison of the outputs of op amp 18 and current source 34 indicates that the desired antenna angular position is greater than the present antenna angular position, the output of op amp 18 is greater than that of current source 34. This causes the window comparator to turn on in that comparator 28 provides an output since its non-inverting input is higher than its inverting input. The output of comparator 28 is provided via resistor 76 to emitter-follower amplifier 68. The amplified output of emitter-follower 68 is provided to triac 80 which provides a clockwise driving signal to the antenna's rotor 120. Conversely, if a comparison of the desired antenna orientation with the present orientation indicates that the antenna's present position is greater than the desired angular position of the antenna, comparator 30 will provide an output to emitter-follower amplifier 70 via resistor 78. The amplified output of the emitter-follower combination 70 turns on triac 82 in providing a counterclockwise drive signal to the antenna's rotor 120. If the present invention voltage is within the limits of the window comparator relative to the desired antenna position, comparators 28, 30 will both provide negative outputs to emitter-follower amplifiers 68, 70 and no drive signal will be provided to the antenna's rotor. Resistors 76, 78 perform a current-limiting function in series with emitter-follower amplifiers 68, 70 respectively. Resistors 84, 90 perform a collector pull-up function for the rapid turn-on of amplifiers 68, 70, respectively, in providing large drive currents to triacs 80, 82.

Diode 68 and grounded capacitor 88 provide a half-wave rectification function with respect to the output of power supply 85 in providing a DC voltage to the antenna's rotor 120. Capacitor 92 is a directional motor start capacitor from which the phase of the rotor's motor (not shown) can be ascertained for proper starting direction determination. An output signal provided by one of the emitter-follower amplifiers to the corresponding triac results in the grounding of the appropriate phase winding in the rotor's motor via the connecting triac. Consequently, the turn-on of one of the triacs causes the rotor to be driven in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

The outputs of comparators 28, 30 are also provided via current limiting resistors 72,74, respectively, to the base of transistor 66. With the emitter of transistor 66 coupled to ground, an input signal provided by either comparator 38 or comparator 30 to its base will result in the turn-on of transistor 66 with a rotor position compare signal being provided via line 94 to microprocessor 12. Microprocessor 12, in response to the rotor compare signal from transistor 66, then provides a rotor set/reset signal to shift register 14 for circuit initialization followed by antenna positioning data provided digitally thereto. From the rotor compare signal from transistor 66 in response to an output from either comparator 28 or comparator 30, microprocessor 12 determines whether a clockwise or counterclockwise direction of rotation of the rotor is required. The appropriate antenna positioning data is then provided from microprocessor 12 to shift register 14. Microprocessor 12 is programmed to step antenna rotation in angular increments from present antenna position to the desired antenna position. The direction of the incremental steps is determined by the continuous comparison of present and desired antenna position by means of comparators 28, 30 and the rotor compare signal provided by transistor 66 back to microprocessor 12. In this manner, the present position of the antenna 122 is constantly monitored and compared with the desired antenna position in generating step-wise correction signals for proper antenna positioning. In the present invention, a 360.degree. rotation of the antenna is accomplished by varying the voltage of the resistor network 16 output signal from 0 to 5 volts in increments of approximately 14 millivolts with a voltage window of 33 millivolts established by comparators 28 and 30.

To summarize, as long as the voltages on the inputs of the window comparator 32 (desired and present), are the same, nothing further happens. If the voltages are not the same, however, either the output of comparator 28 or the output of comparator 30 will swing positive. This turns on transistor 66 and indicates to the microprocessor 12 (through the rotor comparator status line 94) that the voltages are no longer the same. The microprocessor 12 then turns off transistors 98, 100 via the rotor start/stop line 96. If the output of the window comparator 32 is positive, transistors 68, 80 will turn on and turn the rotor clockwise. If the output of the window comparator 32 provided to transistor 68 is positive, transistors 68, 80 will turn on and turn the rotor clockwise. If the output of the window comparator 32 to transistor 70 is positive, transistors 70, 82 will turn on and turn the rotor counterclockwise.

This process continues in small voltage steps, e.g., 40 millivolts, until the desired antenna direction voltage and the present antenna direction voltage are equal. When the rotor 120 reaches the proper direction, both outputs of the window comparator 32 remain negative. This turns off transistor 66 and indicates to the microprocessor 12 via the rotor compare line 94 that the window comparator circuit 32 is balanced. The two position voltages provided to the window comparator 32 are checked once each minute to make sure the circuit remains balanced which maintains the antenna 122 in the current position should it be temporarily displaced by wind or some other environmental factor.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, microprocessor 12 is a Fairchild F3870 microcomputer featuring 2048 bytes of ROM, 64 bytes of scratchpad RAM, a programmable binary timer, 32 bits of input/output, and a single +5 volt power supply requirement. Following a channel number entry by means of channel selector 110, control signals are provided via line 112 to microprocessor 12 and to the antenna's rotor 120. The signal thus provided to the microprocessor 12 causes the last tuned position of the selected channel to be read from memory in the microprocessor and provided in digital form to shift register 14. The signal provided to the antenna's rotor 120 causes the rotor to re-orient itself for optimum signal reception of the selected channel in accordance with the data thus recalled from microprocessor memory and provided to the automatic antenna positioning system 10 as previously described. The data representing optimum antenna pointing direction to the selected channel is in the form of an antenna vector as stored in microprocessor memory. This antenna vector is read from RAM in microprocessor 12 and provided to shift register 14. This causes the rotor 120 to turn in a predetermined direction toward the location of the source of the selected channel. Antenna rotation continues until the output of window comparator 32 is 0 and the receiving antenna 122 is aligned with the main lobe of the transmitting antennna.

The television receiver 105 is coupled to the antenna 122 via line 103 for receiving the transmitted signal. The television receiver includes intermediate frequency automatic gain control (IFAGC) circuitry 106 which is responsive to the received signal level for establishing the proper intermediate frequency signal level in the television receiver. The IFAGC output is then provided to a variable threshold comparator 107 where it is compared with a predetermined signal level which may be established by the viewer. The threshold signal level may be defined as the minimum signal level required for the presentation of a satisfactory video image and is dependent upon viewer preference. The IFAGC circuit 106 and threshold comparator 107 envisioned for use in the present invention are conventional in nature and do not form a part of the present invention.

In response to the comparison of the IFAGC signal representing the received signal level and a predetermined signal level in threshold comparator 107, a threshold detection signal is provided via line 108 to the microprocessor 12. If the threshold detetion signal indicates that the received signal strength is satisfactory, the microprocessor 12 terminates the antenna stepping process described in detail below. If the threshold detection signal indicates that the received signal strength is less than desired, or less than the aforementioned predetermined signal level, the microprocessor continues to step the rotary antenna 122 until the antenna is displaced 180.degree. from due North, or the starting point of antenna rotation. If during the initial search rotation of the antenna a signal level exceeding the predetermined signal level which is displaced from the desired antenna position is detected the new transmitting antenna position providing greater signal strength replaces the previously stored vector information and this new direction is utilized in subsequent antenna positioning.

The manner in which digital signals are processed in microprocessor 12 in automatically positioning a receiving antenna for optimal signal reception will now be briefly explained with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. In referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, an oval symbol indicates the start or stop of an operational sequence, a rectangle indicates an instruction or set of instructions resulting in the performance of a control function and a diamond indicates a decision point based upon the comparison of binary signal inputs.

The antenna rotation program is entered at 114 with the status of a rotor disable switch checked at 116. If the rotor disable switch has been engaged the program terminates at step 118. If the rotor disable switch has not been engaged, the program begins monitoring system timing 120, turns on the rotor 122, and sets the program timer for an 8 second interval 124. The current position of the rotor is then compared with desired antenna position based upon the selected station 126 and if the comparison is within limits, the timer continues to run 128 with the program returning to the general television receiver control program 130, or the rotor is turned off 132 and the program terminated 134.

The program next checks to see if the desired antenna position of 0.degree. 136, which is the initial position of the antenna. ##SPC1## ##SPC2##

If the initial desired position of 0.degree., the program proceeds to the auto search mode 138 which is explained below. If the desired position is other than 0.degree., the program compares its present position with the desired position 140 and, if coincidence occurs, the program checks for a new station selection 142 and if none has been selected the program terminates 146. If a new station has been selected, the program effects a change in antenna position in a step-wise manner 144 toward the desired position and exits the antenna rotation program 148 when present antenna position coincides with the desired antenna position.

If in step 140 the program determines that antenna present position does not coincide with desired position, the program next resets the 8 second timer 150 and begins stepping the antenna toward the desired orientation 152. The desired antenna position is then provided to the display processor 154 and the antenna rotation program is exited 156.

Following entry into the auto search routine 138, as shown in FIG 2b, a null procedure 158 is initiated wherein the system verifies that the antenna is initially pointing toward 0.degree.. If the antenna is thus oriented, the auto search program is initialized at this temporary position 160 with the program advancing to the next procedure 162 and then exiting therefrom.

If the null procedure 158 discloses that the antenna is not pointing toward 0.degree., the antenna is oriented in a temporary desired position 166 and begins to search for antenna north direction 168. Once the antenna has been aligned northward, the program is initialized for maximum signal search 170, setting the temporary desired position to due south 172 and advances to the next procedure 162 in exiting the program 164. If the program earlier determines that the antenna is not oriented northward 168, the program determines the current sector start position 174 and provides an output to the rotor's DAC and begins a vector search procedure 176. The program is then exited 178 following execution of this routine.

If the program earlier determines that the antenna is not in the desired position 166, the program begins serching for the maximum strength signal 180 and once finding it 182 and 184, stores in memory its current position 190 and resets the timer 150 in stepping toward the desired position. If the system fails to detect a maximum strength received signal 184, it proceeds with an analysis of received signal strength in terms of search sector size 186, 188 and thence proceeds to reset the timer 150 in stepping toward the desired antenna position 152.

Shown in Table I are the preferred components and preferred values of various elements of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1. The present invention, of course, is not limited to these specific values which are included for the purpose of disclosing the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the particular environment disclosed herein.

                TABLE I                                                     

     ______________________________________                                    

     ELEMENT      PREFERRED COMPONENT VALUE                                    

     ______________________________________                                    

     Microprocessor 12                                                         

                  Fairchild F3870                                              

     Shift Register 14                                                         

                  14094                                                        

     Op Amp 18    442-22                                                       

     Resistor 20  10 Kilohms                                                   

     Resistor 22  10 Kilohms                                                   

     Resistor 24  11 Kilohms                                                   

     Resistor 26  11 Kilohms                                                   

     Comparator 28                                                             

                  442-21                                                       

     Comparator 30                                                             

                  442-21                                                       

     Resistor 38  82 Ohms                                                      

     Resistor 46  10 Kilohms                                                   

     Resistor 48  5600 Ohms                                                    

     Capacitor 49 10 Microfarads                                               

     Resistor 50  5600 Ohms                                                    

     Resistor 52  5600 Ohms                                                    

     Resistor 54  3.3 Megohms                                                  

     Resistor 56  10 Megohms                                                   

     Resistor 58  3.3 Megohms                                                  

     Resistor 60  10 Megohms                                                   

     Resistor 62  3.3 Megohms                                                  

     Resistor 64  3.3 Megohms                                                  

     Resistor 72  10 Kilohms                                                   

     Resistor 74  10 Kilohms                                                   

     Resistor 76  10 Kilohms                                                   

     Resistor 78  10 Kilohms                                                   

     Resistor 84  210 Ohms                                                     

     Capacitor 88 100 Microfarads                                              

     Resistor 90  210 Ohms                                                     

     Capacitor 92 220 Microfarads                                              

     Resistor 102 4700 Ohms                                                    

     Resistor 104 4700 Ohms                                                    

     ______________________________________                                    

There has thus been disclosed an automatic antenna positioning system for optimally positioning a rotary antenna. A microprocessor is used for storing the last position of maximum received signal strength for a given transmitted signal, comparing the present antenna position with the stored, or desired, position, rotating the antenna toward the desired position, and comparing received signal level with a predetermined threshold level in insuring coincidence of the main lobes of the transmitting and receiving antennas for maximum signal strength reception.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and its broader aspects. The aim in the appended claims, therefore, is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for positioning a rotary antenna driven by a voltage responsive rotor for use with a radio wave receiver having frequency selector means for selectively receiving signals from a plurality of predetermined stations, sand antenna positioning system comprising:

voltage sensing means coupled to said rotor and responsive to the position of said rotor for generating first signals representing current rotor position and second signals representative of antenna positions for receiving a signal greater than a predetermined threshold signal level from each of said plurality of predetermined stations;

signal processing means coupled to said voltage sensing means for storing said second signals representative of antenna positions for receiving signals greater than said predetermined threshold signal level from each of said plurality of predetermined stations;

position comparator means coupled to said rotor and to said signal processing means for recalling a second signal therefrom upon receiver turn-on or engagement of said selector means for receiving a signal from one of said predetermined stations and coupled to said voltage sensing means for comparing said first and second signals and for generating a third signal representing the difference between said first and second signals and for providing said third signal to said rotor for positioning said antenna to receive a signal greater than said predetermined threshold signal level from one of said plurality of predetermined stations; and

signal comparator means coupled to said antenna for comparing received signal strength with a predetermined threshold signal level and coupled to said signal processing means for providing a continue command to said position comparator means if the received signal strength does not exceed said predetermined threshold signal level when said first and second signals are compared whereby antenna rotation continues until received signal strength exceeds said predetermined threshold signal level at a second antenna position and whereby said second antenna position is stored in said signal processing means as one of said second signals for subsequent use.

2. An antenna positioning system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said position comparator means comprises window comparator, said window comparator comprising first and second differential amplifiers, said differential amplifiers coupled to said signal processing means for receiving said second signals representative of the antenna positions for receiving maximum strength signals from each of said plurality of predetermined stations and coupled to said voltage sensing means for receiving said first signal representative of the present antenna position.

3. An antenna positioning system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said voltage sensing means includes a constant current source coupled to said first and second differential amplifiers of said window comparator and to said rotor whereby a signal representing the voltage applied to said rotor is provided to said first and second differential amplifiers for comparison with said second signal in said window comparator.

4. An antenna positioning system as in claim 1 wherein said first and second signals are continually compared at a predetermined rate and wherein said third signal is generated at said predetermined rate for incrementally rotating said antenna in a stepwise manner from its present position to a position for receiving a signal greater than said predetermined threshold signal level from one of said predetermined stations.

5. An antenna positioning system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said signal comparator means is coupled to threshold signal level generating means for comparing received signal strength with said predetermined threshold signal level and wherein said threshold signal level generating means is responsive to receiver operator inputs for selectively establishing said threshold signal level, with said threshold signal level defining a manually acceptable received signal.

6. An antenna postioning system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said signal comparator means includes a variable threshold signal comparator for receiving and comparing an intermediate frequency automatic gain control signal representing received signal strength with said threshold signal level.

7. An antenna positioning system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotor includes rheostat means for the operation thereof with the voltage applied across said rheostat means establishing the position of said antenna.

8. An antenna positioning system as in claim 1 wherein said radio wave receiver is a television receiver.

9. An antenna positioning system as in claim 1 wherein said radio wave receiver is a subscription television decoder.

10. A system for positioning a rotary antenna driven by a voltage responsive motor for use with a radio wave receiver having station selector means for selectively receiving signals from a plurality of transmitting stations, said antenna positioning system comprising:

a voltage source for providing a drive signal to said rotor wherein said rotor includes rheostat means coupled to said voltage source with the voltage applied across said rheostat means establishing the position of said antenna;

first means coupled to said antenna and responsive to the strength of the received signals induced therein for comparing received signal strength with a predetermined threshold signal level representing a minimally acceptable received signal strength and for generating a first signal when said received signal strength exceeds said predetermined threshold signal level;

second means coupled to said rotor and responsive to the voltage applied thereto for detecting the present position of said antenna and for generating a second signal representative thereof;

signal processing means coupled to said first and second means for receiving said first and second signals respectively therefrom and for generating and storing third signals representing a desired antenna position for each of said transmitting stations for receiving a signal greater than said predetermined threshold signal level therefrom; and

position comparator means comprising a window comparator including first and second differential amplifiers coupled respectively to said signal processing means for receiving said third signals representative of antenna position for receiving a signal greater than said predetermined threshold signal level from a selected transmitting station and coupled to said second means for receiving said second signal representative of present antenna position, said window comparator having upper and lower limits representing a predetermined rotational angular displacement around the maximum received signal antenna position for comparing said second and third signals and for generating a fourth signal representing the difference between said second and third signals, and coupled to said rotor for providing said fourth signal thereto in positioning said antenna to receive a signal greater than said predetermined threshold signal level from one of said plurality of transmitting stations and wherein said position comparator means is responsive to receipt of said first signal by said signal processing means for terminating said fourth signal provided to said rotor when said antenna is within said predetermined rotational angular displacement around the antenna position for receiving a signal greater than said predetermined threshold signal level.